Motormouth.

Shop talking straight on rear alignment

Q. I took my 2000 Lexus RX300 sport-utility vehicle to a local oil-change shop that advised me that my front end needed alignment, showing me excessive tread wear on the inside of the left front tire.

When I took it back a week later, they accepted a $10 discount coupon, but about 45 minutes later, told me that my rear end was also out of alignment, and there would be an additional $20 charge.

In my 60 years of driving, I have never heard of the rear end needing alignment. Have I been leading a sheltered life, have I been missing something or had they simply found a way to get their discount back--in spades? M.G., Wilmette

A. They didn't get their money back in spades; they got it back in cash, which is always more negotiable than shovels. But the service they provided is legitimate.

The alignment of the rear wheels creates the "thrust angle" of the vehicle and, if it is not correct, adjusting the front alignment will make the vehicle "dog track." Even on vehicles where the rear alignment is not adjustable, the technician should take this angle into consideration when doing a front-end alignment.

Q. I have a 1994 Cadillac with 105,000 miles that , after I start it in the morning, will not move for a while when I put it in drive or reverse. After three to five minutes, it is fine. I hope it is not as severe as I have been told by a mechanic: a transmission problem. Can you tell me what is going on and how I correct it? M.R., Glen Ellyn

A. We hate to tell you this, but it most likely is a transmission problem. If the fluid level is not low, we suspect that the torque converter is draining down overnight. When that happens, the car won't move until the transmission oil pump moves enough fluid back into the converter. You should probably expect to pay at least $1,000 to have the torque converter replaced, plus costs for any other necessary repairs to the transmission.

Q. I have a 1994 Infiniti J30 with 27,000 miles, and the heat shield on the bottom of the catalytic converter recently fell off. I asked the dealer if it was covered under the warranty and he told me that it wasn't. Yet I note from your article (Cars, Feb. 4) that there is a federal law mandating a warranty for eight years or 80,000 miles. (The eight-year period will be up this month.) Could you shed any light on this? T.W., Wilmette.

A. The converter is warranted to function for that time, but the heat shield is not. Though the heat shield has little effect on the cat's operation, we suggest replacing it--especially if you plan to park over tall dry grass or a heap of leaves.

In case you were wondering: Personalized, or vanity plates, were first issued in Connecticut in 1937, the same year that state began issuing permanent plates, and they offered a combination of alpha-numeric characters. According to a spokesman from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, there is no record of what the first one said.

We have had some fun challenging our readers to decipher personalized plates, and now an auto appearance care products company is looking for the most humorous plates in the United States.

For its 65th anniversary, Eagle One is awarding $5,000 for the funniest plate to be judged by the writers for the NBC "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. Each state winner will get $100 and an assortment of products from the company. Entries are being accepted between May 1 and June 30 at www.eagleone.com. Winners will be notified by Aug. 16.

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Bob Weber is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician, having recertified every five years since 1978. Address your technical questions about cars and trucks to him in care of Motormouth, 17717 Silcott Springs Rd., Purcellville, Va., 20132. Send e-mail, including name and town, to MMTribune@netscape.net. Answers will be supplied only through the newspaper.